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Chapter 94
Six Pyramids. When the Withdrawal Drives You Mad (3)
The iron chains and shackles had crumbled like cotton candy and lay scattered across the floor.
Elder Hamel trembled, panting heavily, his breath caught in his throat.
“How did he undo that restraint? Who betrayed us?”
“That’s impossible! We all know if the Tower Master gets free, we’re as good as dead!”
They—who knew nothing about the history or traditions of the Magic Tower—had ignored the elders’ decisions with their shallow understanding. The Tower would collapse like this.
The value of the traditions they had preserved for generations would be desecrated. Even a Tower Master needed to respect the years they had devoted to the Tower’s stability.
No matter how much he believed in meritocracy, they could never accept a Tower Master who knew nothing about the Tower itself.
It would have been easier if he had simply stayed disinterested. But he suddenly changed his attitude and started meddling—so they had thought it necessary to give him a bit of “advice.”
“If only the hypnosis spell had been completed sooner…”
“Nothing worked anyway. Maybe it was impossible from the start.”
“No, it can’t be. Every person has a weakness.”
“Is that even a human being?”
“Of course it is! He’s cursed on one arm—that’s proof enough! All we have to do is force it into his mind!”
“What’s the point? He’s already escaped.”
“Bring that girl. If we have a hostage, the Tower Master won’t be able to do anything. He only uses large-scale destructive magic—”
Edmund let out a quiet laugh.
“You really are just like my teacher, Elder Hamel. I suppose blood doesn’t lie.”
“Ta—Tower Master! Where are you?!”
“Why, so you can hit me again once you find out?”
“I didn’t hit you! I was only trying to check if the spell was effective—”
“Even the excuses sound the same. Disgusting.”
Whenever they were cornered, they always made the same excuse—I was only trying to check something. Edmund tilted his head, resting his chin on his hand.
Elder Hamel, frightened by the disembodied voice echoing around him, shouted desperately.
“Don’t you care about that girl?! If anything happens to us, she won’t be safe either!”
“Go ahead, try.”
“……”
“Cowardly worms.”
An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.
Threats were cowardly—but since they had started it, Edmund decided he would pay them back in kind.
It hadn’t been long ago that he’d been frustrated, only able to use large-scale destruction spells.
But Edmund was a genius. There was nothing he couldn’t learn if he set his mind to it—except healing magic, which continued to vex him no matter what he tried.
“I finally found the perfect spell for you lot.”
Without magic, they were nothing but powerless old men.
Floating cross-legged in midair, Edmund grinned like a devil and cast a curse.
“Van Michel Cronin!”
A sharp, piercing scream filled the air.
In Madam Cronin’s hand was a letter from House Greenwood.
The letter stated that Lady Greenwood had fainted from shock—and that their marriage proposal was hereby canceled.
“Bisexual?! You—really?!”
“Mother, I could no longer hide the truth.”
Van spoke solemnly. Madam Cronin’s face went pale as her blood pressure rose; she opened and closed her mouth several times before forcing herself to speak.
“Even so, you didn’t have to say it outright.”
“She’s a woman I might have married. There shouldn’t be lies between us.”
“Van.”
“Even if I did marry, I wouldn’t be able to have heirs…”
“But the doctor said you had no functional problems! If you just think of the other person as a man, you could still manage!”
“Yes, that’s true. But…”
Van paused dramatically, then gave a sharp smile.
“The thing is, I’m the one receiving. Unless it’s that kind of stimulus, I can’t get it up.”
“……”
“I’m sorry. I’ll take responsibility and never use the Cronin name again.”
“……”
“Thank you for everything, Mother.”
Even after her son’s declaration of estrangement, Madam Cronin didn’t bat an eye. Instead of begging him to stay, she sighed deeply and shook her head.
“Foolish child. You never fail to disappoint me.”
And that was the end of it.
The next day—
The most handsome, righteous, and gentle man in Rayard, the blond knight and commander of the Badger Order, Van Michel Cronin, was rumored to be a homosexual. It spread like wildfire that he had eloped with the Tower Master, Edmund, his childhood friend.
While some women of Rayard cheered and swooned at the news, the two men disappeared together.
Elaine heard the rumor from Seth.
“The leader of the Mammoth gang told you to spread that story?”
“Huh? Uh—y-yeah?”
“Guess he paid you well. If it’s too much, tell me, Seth. Does your father know what you’re doing?”
“……”
Seth’s face flushed red. Elaine patted his shoulder lightly and said,
“I’ve got to go. My father’s been loading me with work lately—I’m too busy. See you next time.”
“O-oh, okay… sure…”
The Mammoth gang leader had vanished, leaving him behind, and Duke McClure had cut off all contact as well.
Important things kept happening without Seth’s involvement. No one bothered to explain anything to him. They treated him like trash—someone whose presence or absence didn’t matter.
But Seth didn’t want to get dragged back into danger again. So he stayed idle at the Hastings estate, living off their hospitality—and for him, that safe, easy life was happiness enough.
The once greedy and ambitious Seth had learned what “small happiness” felt like. Maybe it was progress, in a way—pursuing a happiness that actually suited him.
But Duke Hastings eventually grew tired of the sight and ordered him to visit Duke McClure, who was said to be ill.
He went to pay his respects—but he never got to meet the Duke.
“Father’s asleep. If you have something to say, tell me instead.”
He couldn’t even think of spitting out, You’re just a bastard. The pressure from Elaine was suffocating—one wrong word, and it felt like his tongue might be cut off.
He really did seem like a born noble now.
“What… what happened to you?”
Seth trembled. Elaine felt like a completely different person—unfamiliar, terrifying.
Elaine recalled the rumors about the Tower Master and laughed to himself.
Before leaving, Morris, Van, and Edmund had come to see him.
“If you want to wallow in self-pity and throw your life into the trash, that’s your choice. But don’t drag Ellie into your misery again.”
They’d threatened him—never approach our girl again.
A mother hen, the lot of them.
He had been jealous.
Ellie, who could leave.
Those three, who could follow her.
Elaine had no one.
The autumn festival of Rayard was the biggest celebration of the year.
Alongside the King’s birthday and the founding day, it was one of the kingdom’s three grand holidays—commemorating the season blessed by the Goddess of Abundance, the nation’s patron deity.
Ironically, Rosso had almost no farmland, yet the national religion worshipped a goddess of abundance, fertility, and birth. The same goddess whose statue Ellie had once used in place of a pig’s head during a ritual.
At Rayard’s only port, goods from all over the continent poured in. Fresh produce, rare grains, seafood, meat, leather, crafts—everything imaginable overflowed through the streets.
The royal family hosted all sorts of events during the festival to draw tourists—gladiator tournaments with huge prizes, beauty contests, concerts, recitals, plays, and endless performances.
Crowds swarmed every street. Merchants not only from Rayard but also from neighboring countries came to sell or promote their goods.
To sell at the festival, vendors only needed to register with the palace in advance.
But most didn’t bother—they just set up illegal stalls. Soldiers usually looked the other way for a small bribe.
On the third day of the autumn festival—the most crowded day—
The finals of the martial arts tournament were underway. Betting ran rampant. Between the flower stalls, food vendors, and trinket sellers, a delicious aroma began to spread.
It cut through the noise and caught everyone’s attention.
Amid the dust and the spicy scent of exotic seasonings, there was a rich, buttery sweetness that stood out.
A sturdy middle-aged woman held a steaming loaf of bread in her hands. She didn’t shout to attract customers. Instead, when she felt enough eyes on her, she boldly tore the loaf in half.
The soft, steamy interior pulled apart in strands.
Golden cheese melted slightly from the heat. The woman smiled broadly and popped a piece into her mouth.
“Mmm—!”
It melted the moment it touched her tongue.
The chewy, tender texture infused with the aroma of milk and the saltiness of the cheese made her face bloom with bliss. The onlookers’ mouths began to water.
To visitors from other regions, bread was still considered a hard, dry food.
That’s bread?
No way. Can’t be.
“Freshly baked bread right here! Tear it apart and eat it with your hands! Try it with sweet jam—our cheese loaf is delicious too, but plain bread with thick butter and just a sprinkle of salt is divine!”
“Oh, but wait…”
Someone hesitated, recalling the rumors that had stirred Rayard just days ago.
“They said… we shouldn’t eat that. Didn’t the Magic Tower warn everyone?”
“I don’t know. Their doors were closed.”
“I eat bread every day and I’m fine.”
“That’s because you’re sturdy…”
The middle-aged woman, Marlina, laughed softly.
“If you’re not confident in your health, you don’t have to eat it. But as a special event—everything’s free for tasting!”
“Rayard men are weaker than women, huh? Not me.”
“Same here.”
“Give me one too!”
Marlina beamed and gestured behind her.
“All products are free! Handmade jams from fresh fruit, honey butter, salted butter, sweet caramel sauce, and chocolate sauce—all free to take home! Just make sure to check the expiration dates on the packages!”
“Chocolate sauce?! That’s so expensive—I’ve never even tasted it! Give me one!”
“I’ve eaten their bakery’s bread before and never got sick! I want some too!”
“There’s plenty for everyone! Visit the store and try our cookies too—our whole staff will serve you with love!”
They say nothing’s more expensive than “free,” but nobody hates free things.
The hesitant locals soon got pushed aside as tourists rushed forward to grab the bread. Then, not wanting to be left out, the locals joined the line as well.
Marlina cheerfully guided the crowd, letting them line up for their free samples. Her employees, wearing spotless white uniforms and chef hats despite their rough faces, smiled kindly as they handed out neatly wrapped loaves.
At the same time, staff from Cookie Walking were giving out beautifully wrapped cookie packs to children, each decorated with paper flowers.
Marlina laughed heartily.
“Take it all! The boss has gone mad!”
It was a catastrophic going-out-of-business sale.
